Effective construction logistics improves safety and efficiency

Construction sites place high demands on effective logistics: building materials must be transported to the site, and waste must be removed from it. Materials must be available at the right place and time for staff to work efficiently; at the same time, there is often limited space for storage over extended periods. There is also the risk of items being stolen or damaged by weather conditions. Storage, loading, unloading, and congestion also pose risks of personal injuries.

The Construction Consolidation Centre in Stockholm Royal Seaport, which was established in 2013, is a key component in achieving increased resource efficiency and reduced costs.

Stockholm Royal Seaport Construction Consolidation Centre

The Construction Consolidation Centre serves as a hub for construction logistics throughout the urban development area, to which all construction stakeholders and developers are affiliated. The goal is for the Construction Consolidation Centre to be a competent service organisation in construction and civil engineering production and to promote research, development, and innovation.

The City of Stockholm owns the facility, and an operator is responsible for running it. The operator was selected through a competitive dialogue procedure, whereby the procurement started with an open invitation for operational proposals. The submissions were subsequently refined through consultation.

The business is financed through affiliation fees, congestion charges, and payments for work done. For infrastructure projects, the fee is a percentage of the contract sum. For residential and commercial spaces, it is linked to the square footage. A so-called congestion charge also applies for direct transports to the work site. Work involving logistics co-ordination, cleaning, transportation, and waste management is carried out on an ongoing basis and charged for according to a price list. The business model aims to create incentives to increase co-loading and collective efficiency. One example is that a shuttle load service is free of charge while there is a site access fee. The transport booking system is open to other logistics systems and compatible with industry standards.

All transports with a fill rate below 50 per cent go to the Construction Consolidation Centre. Lorries with a higher fill rate can drive directly to the construction site. The Construction Consolidation Centre temporarily stores the materials and can then transport them using a shuttle vehicle. The shuttle vehicle serves multiple worksites, can be fully loaded, and delivers materials at the right time for each project. Transports from the Construction Consolidation Centre arrive within a two-hour time frame.

By receiving, temporarily storing, and coordinating the transport of materials to construction sites, and managing the recycling of waste, the number of heavy transports can be halved. There is also collaboration with the Ports of Stockholm to enable more construction elements and materials to be transported by sea.

All transport and services provided by the Construction Consolidation Centre are fossil-fuel free. Cargo bikes are also available for short supplementary deliveries that would otherwise require a vehicle.

In 2019, the Construction Consolidation Centre moved from Ropsten to the container port, deemed to be a more strategic location closer to the expansion of Värtahamnen, Frihamnen, and Loudden. The Construction Consolidation Centre plays a crucial role in co-ordination and safety work in the expansion, primarily in Ropsten and Värtahamnen, as well as in Loudden, as these are small worksites with limited storage space or managing building materials on-site.

Innovative solutions

Tests are underway with delivery containers that make it possible to deliver building materials outside normal opening hours, reducing transportation during peak hours and allowing for more flexible working hours in the transport industry. Work will resume when residential construction is expected to increase in 2026.

The Construction Consolidation Centre is also evaluating new types of construction fencing and lighting solutions. Experiences gained are shared with other construction projects in Stockholm and the rest of the country. In 2023 the Construction Consolidation Centre was complemented with a reuse centre for building materials.

The shuttle truck is electrically-powered and is part of the 'With a view from the driver's seat – how do electric vehicles function in the system?' innovation project. One of the main aims of the project is to test energy storage systems in conjunction with an electric truck and solar panels, as well as how charging infrastructure can optimise electricity usage for construction machinery and vehicles on a construction sites.

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Article Published: 17/04/2022 Updated: 30/10/2026